It is our great pleasure to present the “First Global Report on Decentralization and Local Democracy”. We hope this report, which is the first of its kind, will help broaden and deepen knowledge about the current role of local governments and enrich national and international discussion on the relationship between decentralization and development.
This first GOLD Report, as we present it today, is part of the UCLG initiative to analyze the advances and possible reverses to local democracy and decentralization around the world on a regular basis. It is also the first global comparative analysis of the situation of local authorities in every region in the world.
The GOLD Report clearly shows that the world is undergoing a quiet democratic revolution. Therefore, even if important aspects have yet to be accomplished, local democracy is gaining momentum all over the globe: from the African Savanna villages, across the highlands of Latin America to the towns of Eurasia.
In a world where more than half of humanity now lives in cities, local authorities are the key actors to solve the major contemporary challenges of all kinds.
The Report was made possible by the support of our partner institution mentioned below and the scientific coordination of the Research Network of Local Government of Europe (GRALE - University of Paris I)